Dec 25, 2000 - 02:15 PM

Problem Dates for Computers The Associated Press

- Jan. 1, 1999 - the first day of the 99th year. A few glitches reported, including computerized taxi meters failing in Singapore and some medical devices displaying wrong time and date. - Feb. 4, 1999 - the day most airlines began to book tickets for Jan. 1, 2000. No trouble reported.

- April 9, 1999 - the 99th day of the 99th year. "9999" is a stop-program command for some computers. No trouble reported.

- July 1, 1999 - the start of fiscal year 2000 for most states. A few state computers required modifications, but no major disruptions reported.

- Sept. 9, 1999 - or 9-9-99, also a potential stop-program command. Some water customers in Pennsylvania got erroneous bills.

- Oct. 1, 1999 - the start of fiscal 2000 for the U.S. government. Failures at four agencies, mostly involving budget-related computers.

- Jan. 1, 2000 - the day computers might first read "00" as the year 1900. Scores of glitches, but all minor. Among the errors - dates appearing as Dec. 32, years showing up as 19100.

- Feb. 29, 2000 - the extra day in the 2000 calendar because of leap year. Some computers did not recognize it. Curbside computer system at an airport failed. Montreal's tax system had trouble with a program that calculates interest rates on overdue tax bills.

- Dec. 31, 2000 - the 366th day of the year. Some computers might not realize it is a leap year.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHY61K6HC.html

-- Carl Jenkins (somewherepress@aol.com), December 25, 2000